Fan structure



May 30, 1967 c. c. LEHMKUHL FAN' STRUCTURE Filed May 5, 1965 INVENTOR. CarlesCle/zmib/J,

United States Patent 3,321,931 FAN STRUCTURE Charles C. Lelmilruhl, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,861 4 Claims. (Cl. 62-281) This invention relates to fan structures and in particular to a fan structure having an improved orifice means.

In one conventional fan structure, a fan blade is rotatively moved through a space comprising an orifice defined by a formed wall member. Heretofore, relatively expensive tooling has been required to fabricate a suitable fan orifice wall of this type.

It has further been conventional in such fan structures to provide for the introduction of water and the like into the stream of air passing through the orifice so as to effect an evaporation of this liquid. For example, in one form of conventional room air conditioner the condensate from the evaporator is introduced into the air stream to the condenser by a slinger ring associated with the fan whereupon the liquid strikes the hot condenser surface and is vaporized. A certain portion of the water lifted by the slinger is dashed against the fan shroud, and this liquid is conventionally collected and returned to the sump via means associated with the orifice surrounding the fan blade opening.

The present invention comprehends an improved fan structure having a novel orifice means which not only collects condensate but which also effects improved evaporation thereof by exposing the collected liquid to the air stream.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved fan structure.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of such a fan structure having a new and improved orifice means.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a fan structure wherein the orifice means is extremely simple and economical of construction.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a fan structure wherein the orifice means is arranged to provide substantially improved delivery of liquid to the air stream passing through the orifice for substantially improved evaporation efficiency.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such a fan strucure wherein the orifice means comprises a liquid absorbing material arranged to present a large liquid surface area to the air stream passing through the orifice.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a fan structure wherein the orifice means comprises a ring of foam plastic material.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a fan structure wherein the orifice ring has a substantial axial extent.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such a fan structure wherein the orifice ring is relatively rigid to provide improved relatively vibration free guiding of the air therethrough.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a fan structure wherein the orifice ring is formed of a sound absorbing material.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a fan structure wherein the orifice ring is spaced slightly outwardly of the tips of the fan blades to provide a somewhat turbulent air flow at the inner surface of the orifice ring, thereby to provide improved delivery of liquid from the orifice ring into the air stream.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal section of a fan structure having an orifice means embodying the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a fan generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a plurality of blades 11 carried on a corresponding plurality of mounting arms 12 secured to a connector 13 carried on a rotatable fan shaft 14 for moving the fan blades in an annular path about the axis of rotation of the shaft 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the fan 10 is disposed concentrically within an open ing 15 in a housing wall 16 defining a space in which a conventional air conditioner condenser coil 18 is pro vided. The lower portion of wall 16 is enclosed by a base member 17 which provides a support for the condenser coil 18 and also defines a sump into which condensate from the evaporator coil (not shown) is directed for subsequent disposal. The illustration of the fan structure in connection with the condenser means is illustratve only, it being understood that the fan structure may be equally well utilized in conjunction with other apparatuses wherein movement of air is desired.

The blades 11 carry an annular slinger ring 19 which passes through the condensate water in the sump defined by base member 17 thereby lifting the collected liquid upwardly into the air stream that passes from the fan to the condenser coil 18 as indicated by arrows in FIG- URE 1. The orifice 20 through which the fan structure 10 moves the air on its way to the condenser coil 18 is defined by an orifice ring 21 which is mounted on wall 16 so as to receive the water thrown on the wall 16 by the slinger ring 19. As shown in FIGURE 1., the wall 16 is provided with an inturned portion 22 which defines a flange that may be cemented to the annular groove surfaces 23 in the orifice ring 21, whereby the orifice ring is securely mounted on the wall 16 concentrically of the axis of shaft 14 and slightly outwardly of the path of movement of the blades 11.

The present invention comprehends the forming of the orifice ring of an absorbent material which will present a large fluid surface to the air stream passing through the orifice 2% so as to effectively maximize the evaporation of g the fluid from the orifice ring. In the illustrated embodiment, the orifice ring is formed of a foam material which is relatively spongy. A specific example of such a ring which has been found to provide excellent water evaporation is one formed of polyurethane. A foam material such as one having approximately 30 pores per inch has been found to provide excellent water evaporation.

Another advantage in the provision of the orifice ring 21 over the known methods of providing the orifice in such a fan structure resides in the permissible manufacture of the orifice ring as by molding, thereby substantially reducing the cost of tooling for the orifice means. The forming of the orifice means by the conventional method of deforming the metal wall as with dies and metal working tools is relatively high in tool cost. By utilizing the single flange 22 of the Wall 16 to secure the relatively low cost molded orifice ring thereto, a substantial savings in the tooling cost for the fan structure may be obtained.

As shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, 21 is preferably provided with a substantial axial extent, that is, a substantial length in a direction parallel to the axis of the fan shaft 14. Thus, improved control of the air flow through the orifice 20 is obtained. In addition, the orifice ring is relatively rigid so as to provide an improved, relatively vibration free guide for the air stream, thereby improving the efficiency of the air flow effected the orifice ring by the fan, as well as eliminating undesirable sound such as may occur in the conventional fan structures wherein the fan means is relatively thin and less rigid.

Still another feature of the orifice ring 21 is the utilization of a sound absorbing material therein. Thus, the orifice ring 21 is preferably formed of a material having a porous surface characteristic which provides a sound deadening feature, which in applications such as room air conditioners is a highly desirable feature.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tip 24 of the respective fan blades 11 is spaced slightly inwardly of the orifice ring 21. Thus, a somewhat turbulent air flow is obtained between the tips of the blades and the inner surface of the orifice ring, whereby an improved evaporative delivery of the liquid from the orifice ring into the air moved through the orifice 20 by the fan 10 is obtained.

Thus, the illustrated fan structure and orifice means provides an improved low cost air moving means having improved efficiency in the evaporation of a liquid by delivery thereof to the air stream produced by the fan structure. In addition, the illustrated structure provides an improved noise free orifice means, as well as an orifice means which absorbs sounds originating in the fan structure from other causes. The illustrated fan and orifice structure is extremely simple in design and is adapted for use in fan structures of numerous types of apparatuses.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In a room air conditioner having a condenser coil and a base member defining a sump for collecting evaporator condensate water, structure for disposing of said evaporator condensate water comprising:

wall means for enclosing a space about the condenser coil and having a thin inturned flange portion defining an opening therethrough to said space;

an annular element formed of a liquid absorbent plastic material embracing said wall means flange to project inwardly therefrom thereby to define an orifice opening axially inwardly to said space;

fan means within said orifice having a plurality of blades for forcing air through said orifice to evaporate water from said element and deliver it as vapor to said space; and

means for delivering the evaporator condensate water from said sump to said annular element comprising an annular slinger ring carried on said fan blades downstream of said annular element and adapted to pick up evaporator condensate water in the sump and throw the water on the wall means to pass to the annular element for evaporation therefrom.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said annular element is defined by an axially outer and radially inner, rounded flared surface and an axially and radially inner, axially inwardly widening frusto-conical surface.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said element has an axial extent axially inwardly of said flange greater than the axial extent thereof axially outwardly of the flange.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said annular element has an axial length greater than the radial ring thickness thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,074,037 9/1913 Barry 261-92 X 2,603,468 7/1952 Sutton 2613O X 2,627,936 2/1953 Martinet 23()233 X 2,653,803 9/1953 Baner 26130 2,793,510 5/1957 Komroff et al. 622.80 2,879,936 3/1959 Faught 230133 2,941,382 6/1960 VVuesthoiT 62.280 3,058,318 10/1962 Polovitch 62281 X 3,149,626 9/1964 Wentling et al. 261-92. X 3,176,474 4/1965 Abbott 62--280 3,224,666 12/1965 Ljunstrom et al. 230-120 HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

T. R. MILES, Assistant Examiner, 

1. IN A ROOM AIR CONDITIONER HAVING A CONDENSER COIL AND A BASE MEMBER DEFINING A SUMP FOR COLLECTING EVAPORATOR CONDENSATE WATER, STRUCTURE FOR DISPOSING OF SAID EVAPORATOR CONDENSATE WATER COMPRISING: WALL MEANS FOR ENCLOSING A SPACE ABOUT THE CONDENSER COIL AND HAVING A THIN INTURNED FLANGE PORTION DEFINING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH TO SAID SPACE; AN ANNULAR ELEMENT FORMED OF A LIQUID ABSORBENT PLASTIC MATERIAL EMBRACING SAID WALL MEANS FLANGE TO PROJECT INWARDLY THEREFROM THEREBY TO DEFINE AN ORIFICE OPENING AXIALLY INWARDLY TO SAID SPACE; FAN MEANS WITHIN SAID ORIFICE HAVING A PLURALITY OF BLADES FOR FORCING AIR THROUGH SAID ORIFICE TO EVAPERATE WATER FROM SAID ELEMENT AND DELIVER IT AS VAPOR TO SAID SPACE; AND MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE EVAPORATOR CONDENSATE WATER FROM SAID SUMP TO SAID ANNULAR ELEMENT COMPRISING AN ANNULAR SLINGER RING CARRIED ON SAID FAN BLADES DOWNSTREAM OF SAID ANNULAR ELEMENT AND ADAPTED TO PICK UP EVAPORATOR CONDENSATE WATER IN THE SUMP AND THROW THE WATER ON THE WALL MEANS TO PASS TO THE ANNULAR ELEMENT FOR EVAPORATION THEREFROM. 